At about the time that the government announced the target for the increased numbers of consultants, general practitioners, and nurses in the NHS, plans were developed for more flexible working. This was to enable those with domestic responsibilities to work part time and to allow flexible retirement. Increasing numbers of consultants are retiring and then coming back to work up to half time. This is good for all concerned, especially the Department of Health, which counts each part time post in the same way as a whole time post.
When talking about the increase in staff numbers,1 Patricia Hewitt and her team very rarely, if ever, mention whole time equivalents. No one ever seems to ask her about these either.
Apples need to be compared with apples. We should know the increase in whole time equivalents, not the increased head count. The overall head count may have increased, but the whole time equivalent, which better represents the hours available to treat patients, may even have gone down. We just don't know.
Competing interests: AJS is a member of the Central Consultants and Specialists Committee (CCSC).
References
- 1.Eaton L. NHS employs too many hospital doctors, minister says. BMJ 2006;333:1086-a. (25 November.) [Google Scholar]